Five Other Reasons to Run…

Posted 12 July 2017

Running definitely ranks amongst our favourite activities. Not only is it great for improving your overall fitness, it also strengthens joints and gives your legs and core a thorough workout. It’s excellent exercise for your heart and lungs, too, and can even help promote good mental health!

Of course, the benefits of running are incredibly well-known – which is why record numbers of people are lacing up their trainers and beginning to run. If you’re yet to join them,for whatever reason, perhaps these the following points might just inspire you to get moving…

You don’t need to buy any gear to begin…

Literally the only thing you need to begin running is the ability to move. While it’s possible to splash out on high-tech gear such as electronic trackers, moisture-wicking base layers, or zero-drop trainers, you certainly don’t need any of them – especially as a beginner.

Unlike a lot of other sports and activities there’s no need for special equipment either; you won’t need a racket, a bat, or balls, and you won’t need to find dedicated courts, fields, or rinks to run on – anywhere open will do!

You don’t need to be particularly good at it…

While it’s true that there are other sports and activities that are just as accessible to beginners, running is almost unique in that people of all abilities are able to be successful.

If you’ve decided to run alone, for example, you get to set your own pace, goals, and milestones. If you’re running with others, everybody who crosses the finish line has achieved the same thing – you’ve all run the same distance no matter how long it’s taken! You don't need to be a world-class athelete to take part in marathons, and there are clubs and groups available in most areas that cater to runners of all abilities...

You can easily see (and measure) day-to-day improvements…

Whether you’re running to improve your pace, trying to increase the distance you can run, or just trying to get fitter, incremental improvements are easy to track while running, and, therefore, are much easier to build upon.

Shaving a few seconds off a personal best or adding an extra half-kilometre to your run are easily noticeable when you’re not competing against somebody else, or saddled down by padding and equipment. And, with your only competition coming from yourself, there’s less stress too!

You only need to do it for 5 minutes a day…

Not everybody has the time (or the ability, or the motivation…) to run for hours on end. Not everybody is born to run a marathon. Fortunately, studies such as this one show that it only takes five minutes of running – at a moderate speed – per day to reduce the risk of cardiovascular failure.

In fact, as well as the immediate health benefits often touted, running – however little – can also help reduce the likeliness of breast cancer and colon cancer later in life!

You’ll get to see more of your neighbourhood…

Unless you’re 100% committed to sticking to a treadmill, there’s a good chance that running will encourage you to visit parts of your neighbourhood that you don’t normally see. Running along main streets and well-worn trails might be the easiest way to get in your 5 minutes of activity, but exploring new parks and quieter roads might be more enjoyable.

Varying your route is a great way to keep motivated too, and can provide the perfect excuse for stopping by your favourite coffee shop for a post-run pick-me-up. You’ll know your town like the back of your hand in no time!

Wherever, however, and whenever you run, make sure you keep sweat-stains and odours away with Grangers Active Wash. To find out more about Grangers, follow us on Facebook or like us on Twitter.

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